When the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure briefly decided to defund breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood earlier this year, the groups’ local chapters vowed to maintain their relationship. Next Saturday the two “Bosom Buddies” will host their annual fundraising race in Bushnell Park.
The race will kick off at 8:15 a.m. on June 2 in Hartford. Participants can register for a team at www.KomenCT.org and will receive T-shirts with “Breast Friends Forever” written on the back.
“Planned Parenthood and Komen have a shared priority – women’s health,” Judy Tabar President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England said in a press release.
“We have worked together with Komen CT for many years to educate our communities. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in American women; and cancer is the second leading cause of death among all females in the nation. We continually work to reduce those mortality rates by promoting preventative breast cancer screenings.”
Over the past six years Komen’s Connecticut chapter has provided PPSNE with $160,000 for outreach to women as well as more than 950 mammograms and 69 ultrasounds. Planned Parenthood doctors perform over 15,000 breast exams annually in Connecticut and the organization serves over 63,000 patients annually, according to a press release.
The goal is to reduce breast cancer deaths and disparities among minority women in the Bridgeport area by raising awareness and providing screening and treatment, the press release said.